Heating and/or cooling system



p 1963 E. M. SULLIVAN ETAL HEATING AND/0R COOLING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19. 1960 INVENTOR.

Wm MC w u Wm w ATTQQNEY p 24, 1953 E. M. SULLIVAN ETAL 3,105,137

HEATING AND/OR COOLING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD M suLuvAN BY WILLIAM A BOUCHER @&

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,1i5,i37 HEATENG AND/GR tifitliilNG YTEM Edward M. Sullivan and William A. lioueher, Springfield, Mass, assignors to The Electra-Temp Corporation, Springfield, Mass., a corporation Filed .l'an. ltd, 1960, Ser. No. 3,296 1 Claim. (Ql. 219-4il) Our invention is directed to improvements in a unitary system for the selective heating or cooling of an enclosed space or area or a plurality of enclosed spaces or areas in a domestic, commercial, industrial or other type of establishment whereby the desired temperature conditions therein may be attained more economically through the use of off-peak electrical current for the treating of a fluid mass and the storage thereof for subsequent conditioning and use, when and as desired.

The invention relates to a. central unitary system for selectively heating or cooling which is based upon the employment of a fluid mass which may be heated or cooled during a particular time period (preferentially, an oil peak electrical power period) and, following such treating may be stored for subsequent conditioning and use, during any time interval of the 24 hour day. That is, the heated or cooled fluid may be treated during a specific time interval and stored in a storage tank or reservoir for subsequent conditoning and circulation through supply and return connections and an external heat or cold exchanger disposed therebetwcen, all as necessity and desire may dietate.

Broadly speaking, the invention hereof embraces an auxiliaryless 2.4 hour operating system which functions during a certain time increment of the cycle insofar as the treatment (heating or cooling) of the fluid mass is concerned and which stores such treated fluid in manner to make it ready for conditioning and use at any time during the 24 hour day. The system embodies a central or sole operating means so as to obviate the necessity for any auxiliary heating or cooling instrument.

In a general way, the invention contemplates the storage of a heated fluid in a temperature range of approximately 200 F. and the use thereof for the space heating function after same has been conditioned by reduction to a temperature of approximately 110 F. and the storage of a cooled fluid in a temperature range of approximately 32 (F. and the use thereof for the space cooling function after same has been conditioned by increase to a temperature of approximately 45 The system hereof is unique in that it obviates the necessity of distributing a heated fluid at greater than a maximum temperature of 120 F. or a cooled fluid at less than a minimum temperature of 45 F. in its operation.

Public utilities supplying electrical energy normally charge relatively lower ra es for said commodity during that increment of the twenty four hour day when the normal demand for same is low. Such practice stimulates consumption during what is identified as the off-peak period and permits the said utilities to level oif their load curves and thereby render more economical service. For example, in a particular municipality, the public utility charge for electrical energy consumed between the hours of 6:00 am. and 12:00 am. may be $0.03 per kilowatt hour whereas the charge for energy consumed between the hours of 12:00 am. and 6:00 may be only $0.01 per kilowatt hour.

Herein is envisioned an electrically-operative hot fluid heating/ cold fluid cooling system particularly designed for heating/ cooling one or more spaces or areas by means of the circulation therethrough of a conditioned fluid which has been heated/cooled during the low cost rate time period (off-peak period) and temporarily stored awaiting Patented Sept. 24, 1963 6:: the demand for same for the heating or cooling function, as the case may be.

It is to be here explained that, in coaction with the invention hereof, any space heating and/ or cooling system may be employed, including heating and cooling panels, room heating and cooling units, air handling units, convectors, base board radiation, cast iron radiation, cast iron base board radiation, radiant panels in floors and walls and ceilings, or other appropriate space heating/cooling system.

While the off-peak capacity of the electrical power system is preferentially used, it is to be explained that provision is made herein for the emergency operation of the system during abnormal conditions of hot or cold weather, when circumstances may dictate that operation during other than the off-peak period is necessitated.

The temperature of the hot or cold fluid mass within the storage point is automatically controlled by thermostatic means which may conceivably be responsive to the outdoor temperature in the adjacent locality.

The heating component of the invention is charcterized by the use of a fluid heated to approximately 200 F. for storage purposes, which fluid is reduced to a desired operating temperature in the vicinity of B, when it is desired to use same for the heating function, same being representative of a substantial reduction from the normal operating temperatures in the vicinity of 180 #F. in the known prior art constructions. The heated fluid is discharged from the storage tank and through a tl1ree-way mixing valve where it is mixed with a return fluid so as to lower the temperature or" the resultant mixture, called the conditioning fluid, to approximately 110 F.

It is further characterized by the use of electrodes disposed within a heat generator unit and operative on the fluid being heated for the storage thereof.

A singular feature of the invention hereof is that it is a noiseless and combustionless system without the consumption of oxygen, all so as to avoid the necessity for a chimney or like flue construction. Further, by the use of the electrodes in conjunction with a circulating pump, the need for expensive contactors and switching, as required to produce the heating function in prior art systems, is eliminated.

The fluid heating unit functions as a generator comprising an overhead chamber containing electrodes immersed inv a suitable electrolyte for the generation of heat to the fluid. The liquid in the generator is in hydraulic communication with liquid in a storage tank or reservoir. The generator is disposed at such an elevation above the storage tank as to provide a gravity means by which the levelof liquid therewithin may be lowered out of contact with the electrodes when the pump stops and as heating of the fluid within the storage tank is no longer required. That is, whenever the temperature of the stored fluid in the storage tank reaches a predetermined maximum storage temperature, the generating unit is rendered inoperative by the shutting 05 of the pump through the deenergization of an aquastat, whereupon the fluid recedes away from the electrodes by gravity and returns to the storage tank.

The electrodes are so located in the heat generating chamber that, when the fluid level within the chamber rises, more of the surface area of the electrodes is covered with the fluid to increase the current in amperes flow between said electrodes and thus increase the heat supplied to the fluid in the storage tank.

Conversely, when the fluid level within the chamber falls, the immersed area of the electrodes is decreased so as to lower the amount of electrical energy supplied to the fluid thereby reducing the consumption of amperes as the level of fluid recedes.

Variation of the liquid level in the chamber by the pump operation serves to regulate the electric current flow through the electrodes and the electrolyte and thus 7 to control directly the rate of energy consumption and indirectlythe amount of heat provided to'the fluid.

7 by the electric current from the electrolyte in the water has been used as a source of heat. I

utilized pressure switches orthe like to control the op- Such forms have eration of the boiler by regulating the electric power'input to the electrodes, same being pre-set for the desired pressure, which when reached, eifectuates the shutting off of the power. 1 I

Such a pressure switch usually includes an adjustable pressure dilierential device so that when the boiler pressure drops to a preset level, the switch turns on the power. Since the temperature of the steam or vapor is a function of the pressure, a thermostatic switch with an adjustable on and oil differential has been used in the same manner as a pressure switch. lneith er event, these features have involved great expense, especially where high temperatures have been involved for, as temperature demands go up, exceedingly increased steam pressure must be developed in order to attain the desired temperature. Accordingly, the boilers, pipings, couplings, joints and pres sure seals have had to be capable of withstanding such high pressures.

According to this invention, an electrode boiler or genpacity which is adapted to store therewithin a supply of Heating External to, but functioning as an integral part of, tank it is a heating fluid generating chamber 26 containing a series of spaced electrodes 22 disposed therein When energized electrically, the electrodes are adapted to heat the fluid beingconditioned during the heating phase of erating unit is provided which can develop high temperatures in the order of 250 F. without exceeding the pressure capacities that would produce, in the case of steam boilers, these aforementioned diiflcultproblems.

The cooling component of the invention is characterized by the use of a cooled fluid cooled to 32 F. or less in manner as to induce the formation of ice within the storage medium for subsequent use. as a melted fluid at a Due to the making of the ice in the storage tank, and

the mixing action of the three-way valve, a storage tank of smaller proportion is required than would be required if F. fluid was stored for subsequent use and without the use of said three-way mixing valve.

The system contemplates the employment of a fluid treating means providing for the treatment and storage of a volume of fluid within the internal system and a mixing valve means in the external system for facilitating the conditioning of the fluid so treated and storedlpreparatory to its distribution to the air handling unit or plurality thereof serving the enclosed space or spaces'in question.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention in a heating/cooling system is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view, with certain parts being shown in section, and showing the relation of the essential parts comprising our system; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view with certain parts being shown in section, and showing the modulating electric heat generating unit of the invention.

It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for purposes of description and not of limitation since the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claim.

Referring now to the drawings froming a part of this specification more in detail, and referring particularly to the preferred form of our invention selected for illustrative purposes, we have shown an insulated fluid storage tank or reservoir in of any desired and appropriate caoperational use. The electrodes are connected by suitable lead-in connections (not shown) to an electrical power supply main and are suitably isolated from the walls of the generator Ztl. Any number of electrodes may be employed. For example, three electrodes may each be connected to one phase of a 3-phase electrical power supply. 7

The invention contemplates use of a liquid of such nature that it does not detrimentally break down chemically at temperatures of 200 F.300 F. and is conductive yet has no adverse effect upon the materials of which ordinary boilers, piping and heatexchangers are made. Any'salt soluble in the fluid may be used, as for example aluminum sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, or trisodium phosphate, and other alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates and halides, in amount sufiicient to render the composition conductive,

The generator Ztl is appropriately supported at a desired elevation above the tank iii and is of a size and shape to provide a fluid space below the lower limits of the electrodes disposed therewithin. f

A manuallyoperated valve 36 and a circulating pump 34 are disposed in an outlet conduit 32 connecting between the storage tank it) and the chamber 20, the fluid flowing therethrough from the tank It to the heating chamber 2i) during the treating process.

With the circulating pump 34in the on position, it functions to deliver fluid from the storage tank id to the chamber or boiler 2h for the treating thereof. The fluid thus treated as by heating is discharged from said boiler 2t) througha conduit 52 back to the storage tank lit) and is replaced by a cooler fluid delivered from the storage tank lltlto the boiler through the conduit 32.

The actuation of the circulating pump 34 is controlled by the aquastat 4d immersed in the storage tank it). When the temperature of the fluid in tank 10 falls to a redetermined level, aquastat 40 actuates pump 34 wherefore fluid is delivered through conduit 32 to chamber 2% forheating.

'When the circulating pump 34 is shut off, the fluid in the chamber 2% flows downwardly and outwardly therefrom, by force of gravity, through conduit 32. and through valve Stl and pump 34 therealongto storage tank Iltl.

' trical energy controller of a commercially available type .such as a time control.

A make up feed line fill having a valve 62 therein may serve to deliver a fluid-from a source (not shown) to th storage tank it). a

Cooling Cooling coils or panels '12 are disposed Within the tank for the forming of ice thereon and within said tank during the cooling phase of operational use.

On the cooling cycle, a refrigerant flows from a liquid receiver 80 through a conduit 82 and through a suction header 92 disposed therein. The suction header 92 is connected to each individual coil or panel 12 in the storage tank 10 and controls the metering of the refrigerant to the different coils or panels as required.

From the suction header 92, the refrigerant passes into the coils or panels 12 in the tank for circulation therethrough where it forms ice on the outer surfaces of said coils or panels formed by the freezing of the fluid being treated.

An ice-thickness control 3'5 is of commercially available design and is of such character as to determine the thickness of the ice on the coils and to shut off the flow of the refrigerant therethrough when the predetermined thickness has been reached.

The refrigerant is circulated from the cells or panels 12 outwardly from the storage tank 10 through the conduit 90 to an expansion valve 84 and thence via conduit 94 to compressor 96 and thence outwardly through conduit 93 to an air cooled or evaporative condenser 10%).

From the evaporative condenser 1%, the liquid refrigerant returns through conduit 1412 back to the liquid receiver 80 as the recovered liquid.

The condenser 100 and liquid receiver 89 may, if desired, be eliminated, and in lieu thereof, a common water cooled condenser and a cooling tower or other means of dissipating the heat of the refrigerant used may be employed.

Ice is formed on the outer surfaces of the panels or coils 12 until a predetermined thickness thereof is made, as determined by control 85 and subject to the off-peak controller at which moment, compressor 96 and evaporative condenser 100 are rendered inoperative by said control.

Thus is created within the storage medium a block or blocks of ice having a potential for melting during storage so as to make available a supply of treated fluid which may be employed in the space servicing function.

External System External to the tank 10, a conduit 110- having branches 112 and 114 carrying valves 116 and 118 respectively, and communicating with the tank 1t), is provided.

During the heating process, the flow is through the conduit 112 and through the valve 116 to the conduit 110. During the cooling process, the flow is through the conduit 114 and through the valve 113 and then into the conduit 110*.

The stored fluid flows from the tank 1t) to the conduit 110 and passes through a three-way mixing valve 121) disposed in the said conduit 110.

The three-Way mixing valve is actuated by a bulb 122 disposed in the conduit 110 and connected to the valve by a connection 124. The bulb is disposed forwardly of a pump 126 serving to direct the flow of the conditioned fluid to and through the space or units 130 in the space or spaces being served.

The return fluid is directed from the unit 130 and is returned to the tank 10 via the conduit 146 in which a relief Valve 142 and a back pressure valve 144 are disposed. Said back pressure valve may be of either the spring-operated or weight-and-lever type and may function to impose a back pressure upon the system so that when the pump 126 stops, the fluid in the conduits is retained thereby and thus prevented from emptying back into the storage tank 10. Other means for trapping, such as a loop of known design, may be used in lieu thereof.

A connecting conduit 148 connects from the return conduit 140 to the three-way mixing valve 120. By means of said valve 120, a mixing of the return fluid and supply fluid results. For example, a fluid of 200 degrees F. in the tank 10 may be mixed with a return fluid of degrees F. to produce a conditioned fluid of approximately degrees F. for delivery to the space units.

An overflow pipe 150 permits the discharge of water from the tank 10 to a waste or drain (not shown) in the event of any overflow. A high limit aquastat 160 is provided in the tank 10 to deactivate the pump 34 once the fluid in the tank reaches the desired temperature level, a predetermined setting having been made on said aquastat 160. Once the pump 34 ceases to operate, no additional fluid is delivered from tank to generator 29 for heating.

The aquastat 160 is normally set at 210 F. and controls the temperature of the fluid stored in the tank 10. During the off-peak period, it is operative to permit the building up of a supply of the fluid therewithin to the said temperature, the aquastat serving to shut off the pump 34- on the inlet side of the generator 24 when the stated temperature has been attained. 7

When the making of ice for the air conditioning function is required, the flow of the cooled fluid is from the the storage tank through the conduit 114 and valve 118 and then to the conduit 110.

The cooled fluid then enters the mixing valve 1213 when it is mixed with the return fluid from the unit and thereby the fluid temperature of the resutlant conditioned supply fluid is raised to approximately 45 F.

The remainder of the return fluid is directed to the tank 19 through the conduit in which the relief valve 142 and back pressure valve 144 are disposed. Like loop means may be used in lieu thereof.

The cooled fluid in the storage tank is approximately at freezing temperature or 32 F. and mixes with the return fluid to produce approximately 45 F. conditioned supply fluid to unit 130.

Due to the making of ice in the storage tank, and the mixing action of the three-way mixing valve, a storage tank of smaller proportions is required than would be required if 45 F. water was stored for subsequent use without the use of said three-way mixing valve.

As aforesaid, the space radiator may take any form for receiving the hot/cold fluid circulated thereto and therefrom. Desirably it is of a capacity for maintaining the desired temperature in the space served thereby.

It will be appreciated that the tank, heating generator, liquid receiver, compressor and condenser can be combined as a packaged unit for easy sale and shipment, the unitary assembly being readily connected to other components of the invention and instrumentalities at the situs where the unit is to be installed.

As a modification to the invention hereof in the form of a modulating electric heat generating unit, we have shown, in FIG. 2, a storage tank 111' connected to heat generator 29' by a conduit 32 supporting a manual valve 30 and a circulating pump 34.

A plurality of electrodes 22 which may be of cast iron or the like are disposed within the boiler 2t) and are suspended downwardly thereinto as by brass rods 23 or the like, which brass rods are suitably connected to 3 phase electrical conduits 24'.

A conduit 52 leads from the boiler 26 to the storage tank 10 and is provided at its upper extremity with a header comprising a series of spaced parallel lines 53 which lead directly to the boiler 20' at varying fluid levels 'representative of the full level, the /3 level and the /3 level thereof.

Within each line 53', a motorized valve 54 operatively connected to a power limit controller 55' is disposed. To accomplish the control of large blocks of power, the heat generation unit would have one or several discharge openings located at suitable levels such that the electrodes are immersed according to the proportion of power being controlled.

The choice of the level required would be as ascertained by a power limit control- J ler that is commercially available.

For example, if the.

heat generation unit was capable ofhandling 100 kilo} 7 perature control means for efiectuating cessation of operation of said circulating pump as the temperature of the liquid electrolyte rises toa predetermined level and allowing a lowering of the level of the liquid electrolyte in the generating chamber by gravity feed through said outlet conduit and said circulating pump to a level below the level of md out of contact with said electrodes whereby the further consumption of electrical energy by the liquid electrolyte is precluded, an air handling unit, a supply conduit connected between said liquid reservoir and said air handling unit for supplying fiuid to said air handling unit, mixing means in said supply conduit,

In a heating system for the heating of an enclosed space predicated upon the employment of a liquid electrolyte heated during an oil-peak electrical power period and storedas a heated liquid electrolyte for subsequent use comprising: an electric boiler including a fluid generating chamber adapted to contain the liquid electrolyte to be heated, 'a plurality'of spaced electrodes positioned in the generating chamber of said electric boiler and connected with an electric circuit for energization and the,

heating of the liquid electrolyte, the lower limits of said electrodes being spaced upwardly of the bottom of the I generating chamber to define a fluid space below the lower limits, a liquid reservoir positioned below said electric boiler, an outlet conduit connecting saidliquid reservoir and generating chamber and being connected to said generating chamberat a pointbelow the lowerlim-its of said electrodes, a circulating pump in said outlet conduit liquid reservoir falls to a predetermined level, high tempump means connected to said supply conduit-for circulating the conditioned fluid between said liquid reservoir and said air handling unit, a return conduit connected to said air handling unit andsaid liquid reservoir for returning the'fiuid from'said air handling unit, and a connecting conduit connecting said return conduit and said mixing valve for effectuat-ing the mixing of the liq- 'uid electrolyte from said liquid reservoir with the liquid electrolyte from said return conduit to produce a conditioned fluid for delivery to said air handling unit.

Relesences 'lited in the. file of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS 1,223,729 Perkins Apr.24, 1917 1,355,644 Beaudet Oct. 12, 1920 1,522,214 Unland Ian. 6, 1925 1,650,632 Kowallik Nov. 29, 1927 1,665,793 Sandborgh AprqlO, 1928 1,891,713 Jordan et al. Dec. 20, 1932 2,160,389 Palmer May 31), 1939 2,307,341 Van V-ulpenet al Ian, 5, 1943 2,448,453 Morrison Aug. 31, 1948 2,483,275 Gregor Sept. 25, 1949 2,519,148 McShea Aug. 15, 1950 2,605,381 Head July 29, 1952 2,838,043 Bliss June 10*, 1958 v FOREIGN PATENTS 396,404 Great Britain -1 Aug. 2, 1933 408,732

Great Britain Apr; 19, 1934 

